- Leaked code from iOS 26 has revealed two upcoming Apple products
- It includes AirTag 2 with a number of new features and upgrades
- The HomePod mini could also be in line for some changes
Apple’s AirTag 2 tracker has been rumored for what feels like a lifetime, with various whispered features leaking out left, right and centre. Now we have a new report that claims to be based on internal iOS 26 code, and it paints a detailed picture of what Apple could be planning for its device.
The leak comes from Macworld, which claims to have access to an internal build of iOS 26 that has yet to be released to the public. In this build, Macworld says it has found evidence that Apple is working on a “modest but highly anticipated” update to AirTag.
It will apparently involve a new feature called Improved Moving. The idea behind this is that it will help users find the exact location of their AirTag even when it’s on the move, potentially solving a limitation of the current AirTag.
Another new feature is dedicated to improving accurate tracking in crowded places. Currently, AirTag relies on Bluetooth signals sent by other Apple devices to triangulate its position, but if there are too many people in a given location, Bluetooth channels can become congested and less reliable. Apple’s update aims to fix that, though we don’t know exactly how.
New features and improvements
Aside from new features, Macworld’s report also claimed that some existing AirTag features will be updated and improved. It includes improvements to Precision Finding that can make it easier to quickly find your AirTag. Macworld points out that while this may come as a software update, previous rumors have suggested that Apple is working on new AirTag hardware with an Ultra Wideband chip that could also enable this feature.
Elsewhere, Macworld touched on an improved pairing process and detailed battery level reporting coming to the AirTag in the future. However, we don’t have more details about these features yet.
And AirTag wasn’t the only Apple product revealed in the leaked code – the HomePod mini also got a mention in Macworld’s report. According to the news outlet, the smart speaker will finally get new internal hardware as part of a HomePod mini 2 refresh, including an S10 chip from the Apple Watch Series 11, which should provide “faster performance and better wireless reliability.” However, Macworld’s report adds that “Based on what’s in the code, this upcoming model appears to be little more than a special bump,” with Apple Intelligence support unlikely.
Although Macworld didn’t mention a release date for the HomePod mini 2, the site believes the AirTag will land in the first half of 2026, as its software features are “targeting iOS 26.” Since iOS 27 will be unveiled this summer, it’s likely that these features will launch before then. If that turns out to be correct, we might not have to wait long to see a slew of improvements to two popular Apple devices.
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